asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) if he can state the net amount of estates assessable for duty for the financial years ended 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1917; and (2) if he can state the amount of money that has been realised from Death Duties for the years ending 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1917?

The total net capital values for the years 1912–13 to 1914–15 are as follows:—

The compilation of corresponding figures for the years 1915–16 and 1916–17 is part of the statistical work which has been suspended in consequence of shortage of staff.

The net receipt of Death Duties was as follows:

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what progress, if any, has taken place with reference to the receiving depot in Dublin?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I regret I can add nothing to my replies on Thursday last, and on previous occasions to questions on this subject by the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether British soldiers are compelled to salute captured German officers in this country; whether English soldiers have actually been punished for refusing to salute such German officers; whether he is aware of the indignation in the Army in regard to this matter; whether German soldiers salute English officer prisoners in Germany; and, if not, whether he will immediately give orders to stop the practice here?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the 26th instant to my hon. Friend the Member for South Belfast.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Young Men's Christian Association has now severed its connection with the syndicate conducting boxing exhibitions at the Holborn Stadium in the sense that no provision is insisted upon for hostel accommodation of troops; whether he is aware that the Young Men's Christian Association now receive only ft share of the proceeds of the boxing exhibitions; and whether, having regard to the terms of agreement forming the basis of the permit to alter the premises known as the Holborn Stadium and situated at 85, High Holborn, steps will be taken to let the public know that the military also have no relation with the lessees of this hall?

The military authorities have no relation with the Holborn Stadium beyond the approval given to the Young Men's Christian Association to use it for the provision of sleeping accommodation for soldiers, when required. I understand that hostel accommodation for soldiers is provided as usual, and is available when required, and that there is no change in the share taken by the Young Men's Christian Association out of the proceeds of the boxing exhibitions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will explain the reason of a notice in a recent issue of the "London Gazette" informing men over military age possessing a knowledge of the Chinese language, or having experience in the management of coolies, that their application for temporary commissions in the Army would be entertained; and whether he will also explain the reason for the presence on Charing Cross station on Saturday afternoon, 21st July, of a trainload of Chinese, and state their destination?

The notice was issued in order to secure the services of gentlemen with a knowledge of Chinese as officers for Chinese labour units. I understand that the party of Chinese at Charing Cross on the 21st were proceeding by rail to join such units, but in accordance with the general rule I regret that I cannot state their precise destination.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the decision of December, 1915, not to gazette ex-commissioned officers who had, previous to the War, voluntarily resigned their commissions and had applied for employment during the War was communicated to those whose names had been down for some months previous to that date for appointment to the Cable Censors Department, and in whose application paper sent in previously candidates had been asked to state their late military rank and service, and in which they were informed that if appointed to the staff of the Cable Censor they would come under military law and could not relinquish the appointments except certified under a medical board as unfit for service; and can he now see his way to recommend that these ex-commissioned officers should be permitted to wear the uniform of their rank and be entitled to the various allowances and emoluments which are enjoyed by others serving on the staff of the Cable Censor who have been gazetted to their appointments?

A certain number of gentlemen who had previously held commissions were appointed to the Censor's Department as. civilians, and it is not proposed to alter their status as such.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of William Haugh, a miner, incapacitated by an accident as well for his ordinary work as for military service, who was alleged to have become a soldier and designated No. 47,652, Depot, Royal Scots Fusiliers, and was tried by court-martial on the 19th and 20th June, 1917, on a charge of absence without leave, and sentenced to detention, and to the conduct of the military authorities in persistently prosecuting this man, twice in the sheriff court in which he was acquitted, and subsequently by court-martial, although he had received exemption from the proper Appeal Tribunal after a hearing at which the military representative was present and stated his case; whether he is aware that Haugh acted in good faith and in accordance with the advice of the Miners' Union officials, who had no desire to impede the proper working of the recruiting regulations; and whether he will order the release of this man if still in military detention, and will call the attention of the recruiting officer to the unwisdom of showing resentment of the decisions of tribunals by methods which tend to alienate the co-operation of civilians in providing for the military needs of the country!

Inquiry had already been made into this somewhat complicated case. I am informed that Haugh reported at the recruiting office on the 13th March, 1917, and was posted on that date to the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He was given a few days' leave, during which he lodged an application for exemption with the local tribunal. This application was greatly out of date and as it had been lodged subsequently to his being posted, it was considered by the military authorities that the application was incompetent. The local tribunal, however, did entertain it and refused exemption, but on an appeal by Haugh the Appeal Tribunal granted him temporary exemption. The proceedings complained of were taken not because of any resentment on the part of the military authorities at the decision of the Appeal Tribunal, which, at the time proceedings were first initiated, had not been given, but because it was considered that Haugh, having been posted and so being already in the Army, his application to that tribunal was incompetent, and he was an absentee as soon as his leave expired. As it appears, however, that Haugh's reporting at the recruiting office on the 13th March was, in fact, several days in advance of the date for which he had been called, it is arguable that the certificate of exemption granted by the Appeal Tribunal was valid and instructions were given some time ago that Haugh should be relegated to the Reserve.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the total number of appeals up to the present referred to the Central Appeal Tribunal; and what proportion such total bears to the number of appeals heard by the local Appeal Tribunals?

Two thousand one hundred and ninety appeals have in all been received by the Central Tribunal since the first Military Service Act came into force. I have not full information on the second part of the right hon. Member's question, but from information recently received it appears that an appeal has been made to the Central Tribunal in about 1 per cent. of the cases dealt with by the Appeal Tribunals.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if a disused brewery in Cheesehill Street, Winchester, has been commandeered by the military authorities for an abattoir; if so, whether he is aware that the site is inconvenient and unsuitable and its use for this purpose is against the unanimous wishes of the neighbourhood, and that there are many other positions without these disadvantages; and whether he is prepared to take any action in the matter?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The building referred to is to be temporarily utilised as an abattoir for the slaughter of cattle for the troops. Prior to its acquisition the town was visited by an inspector of the Local Government Board, who interviewed members of the corporation of Winchester and their officials. I gather that there is no other building equally suitable for the purpose, that it was impracticable to erect a new slaughterhouse on some other site within the time available, and that the position of the building compares very favourably with the position of many slaughterhouses in other parts of the Kingdom. I may add that the use of the building will be only temporary. It is required in the national interest, and I feel sure that those who are complaining of the temporary inconvenience which they apprehend from its use will recognise this fact.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the proposed restrictions imposed upon the issue of shot-gun ammunition for the shooting of winged and ground game have now been removed; and whether shot-gun cartridges will be supplied by the gun-makers to their customers without the necessity of their obtaining licences?

All restrictions upon the sale and purchase of shot-gun ammunition have been removed, and licences will no longer be required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether representations have been made to the Restriction of Imports Committee for facilities where cargo space is available for the importation of apples from Canada and the United States of America; and what facilities can be granted to import this form of food, in view of the fact that this year's crop of British apples will be only indifferent?

Representations in the sense suggested have been received. I have been in consultation with the Shipping Controller on this matter, and I greatly regret that, having regard to all the circumstances, it is not thought practicable to give any facilities at present for the carriage of apples. The hon. and gallant Member will doubtless see that if ships are loaded down to their marks with deadweight cargo it is impossible to use empty space which is apparently though not really available.

asked the Minister of Munitions if he will state the numbers of persons, male and female, on the estabment, civil and military, of the Ministry of Munitions on 30th June, 1916, and 30th June, 1917, respectively; and the total amount of salaries paid to the above staff through the establishment, civil and military, for the months of June, 1916, and June, 1917, respectively?

The following statement shows the number employed and the salaries paid in respect of the Headquarters Staff of the Ministry:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what are the duties performed by General Aitken, of the Department of Finance (No. 2), Workmen's Compensation Branch; what is the salary paid to him; how many of a staff has he and how many typists have that staff; and how many hours per week are these servants engaged on the actual work of the Department?

General Aitken is working in the Central Stores Branch and not in the Section of the Finance Department which deals with Workmen's Compensation matters. His duties are those of an administrative assistant in connection with contract storage. His immediate staff comprises one man clerk and one woman clerk, and these are engaged during the hours worked by the staff of the Ministry as a whole. He has no typists. General Aitken receives no salary from the Ministry.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many Committees have been appointed by the Board to report upon questions affecting the future of education; what are the references to these Committees and who are the members of each of them; and what amount has been provided for the expenses of these Committees?

Since the War broke out two Departmental Committees have been appointed by the President of the Board, and I am now setting up a third. In addition, the Prime Minister has appointed two Committees. I am sending the hon. Member lists of these Committees and the terms of reference. The expenses of these Committees are defrayed out of the Vote of the Board of Education (Sub-head A.3. Miscellaneous Inquiries).

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet completed his inquiries into the firms of Kafka, Rothenstein and Company, and Blumenthal, Glaser, and Company, now known as Rutherston, Hayburn, and Company, and Mills, Bower, and Company, of Bradford; whether his attention has been called to another fine of £100 on Messrs. Storey, Weyman, and Company, of Bradford, for false declarations regarding the export of goods to Copenhagen; whether that firm was originally Messrs. Storey, Wagenheim, and Company; and whether some steps will be taken to stop these firms of enemy origin breaking the law in the way they are doing.

The inquiries with regard to the two firms first mentioned are not yet quite complete. I am making inquiries with regard to the other firm to which the hon. Member has drawn my attention, and I will let him know the results as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the joint railway companies who convey passengers to Ryde, Isle of Wight, include in their railway fares a 50 per cent. increase of the 3d. toll which they are under an obligation by Act of Parliament to pay the Ryde Pier Company for every passenger to whom they issue a ticket to or from Ryde pier-head or Ryde esplanade Station; if the joint railway companies have been authorised to do this, as the Board of Trade's order applies to railway fares only and not to pier tolls; and, if so, will the Railway Executive Committee at once take steps to order the discontinuance of such increase, in the interest of the Isle of Wight as a resort for visitors?

I am making inquiries on this subject, and when these have been completed, I will communicate with the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

asked the Pensions Minister whether his attention has been called to the position of widows of soldiers who were killed in the Boer War, and whether their pension scale is to be increased to meet the increase in the cost of living either temporarily or permanently; and, if so, whether this will be met by Royal Warrant increasing these pensions or otherwise?

My attention has been directed to the matter referred to in the hon. Member's question, and I have under consideration the submission of a Royal Warrant dealing with it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to a strike of agricultural labourers in East Suffolk to secure cash wages at the rate of 25s. per week; whether he is aware that the number of men now concerned has been reduced to thirty-five; that the men's representatives attended before the Chief Industrial Commissioner, but the representatives of the farmers failed to appear; and what action he proposes taking to secure a settlement?

I am aware of the dispute referred to by the hon. Member. An officer of the Chief Industrial Commissioner's Department has been in communication with the parties, and in the course of these negotiations the farmers concerned intimated that they could not attend a conference which had been proposed. It does not appear that the Department can take further useful action in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether it is proposed, under the amended Clause 1 of the Corn Production Bill, that the Board of Agriculture shall pay to the producers of wheat and oats the sums therein indicated in respect of each acre on which they are produced, irrespective as to whether or not the crops are sold or are consumed on the premises of the growers themselves?

The hon. Member is correct in supposing that the Clause as amended will entitle the occupier of any land on which wheat or oats have been produced to the payments indicated in the Clause, whether the crops are sold or consumed on the farm.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will state the acreage of the land in the United Kingdom on which wheat was produced and the total amounts that would have been realised by the growers had they been paid in respect of each acre four times the average market prices per quarter for each of the years 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1914; whether he will state the acreage on which oats were produced and the total amounts that would have been realised by the growers had they been paid in respect of each acre five times the average prices per quarter for each of the years 1909 to 1914, inclusive; whether he will state what will be the total sums of money paid to the growers of wheat upon the average number of acres for the six years 1909 to 1914 at the prices of £12 per acre in 1917, of £11 per acre in 1918 and 1919, and of £9 per acre in 1920, 1921, and 1922; and whether he will state what will be the total sums of money paid to the growers of oats upon the average number of acres for the six years 1909 to 1914 at the prices of £9 12s. 6d. per acre in 1917, of £8 per acre in 1918 and 1919, and of £6 per acre in 1920, 1921, and 1922?

The figures asked for by the hon. Member are given in the following four tables:

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Romney Marsh War Agricultural Committee is, with the exception of the two representatives of the Department, composed of large landowners who have refused any representation of smallholders; that this Committee have recommended that only 1,875 arable land, since turned to grass, should be ploughed up; and whether he can take any steps to secure the appointment of some representatives of the small holders and that the recommendation as to the ploughing of land shall be made applicable to all land found suitable and thus have equal treatment all round?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed as to the composition of the Romney Marsh Committee. There is only one landlord on the Committee, and he farms most of his own land. The other members are all practical farmers. The Romney Marsh district has fewer small holders than any other part of Kent, and there seems to be no reason why they should be specially represented on this Committee. The matter is, however, one for the Kent County Agricultural Committee rather than for the Board, and will accordingly be brought to their notice. There are special difficulties in the way of securing a large increase of arable land in the district, owing to the shortage of buildings and cottages and deficient drainage.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Midland Great Western Railway Company acquired by compulsion land at Drumree Station for the purpose of extension; when was the land taken; and has the necessary extension been carried out or is the land being let on the eleven-months' system?

I am informed that portion of the proposed extension of Drumree Station has been completed, and that some of the land taken for the extension is in the occupation of the station master who uses it for grazing.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in the case of Timothy Murphy, evicted tenant, on the Thompson-Orpen estates, Mill-street, county Cork, the hay-barn on the estate was not in any way dangerous until, at a time when fuel was scarce and dear, the caretaker and police removed the centre poles and supports and chopped them up for firing; whether he is aware that it is well known in the locality and can be proved, if the matter is further inquired into, that the local police sergeant, Sergeant Patrick Mulcahy, and Constable Sullivan worked for several days on the bog cutting turf, which is contrary to constabulary regulations; whether the galvanised roofing of the hay-barn is nowhere to be seen on the evicted farm, and is therefore presumably removed or otherwise disposed of; and whether it is usual that the police and caretaker on an evicted farm should thus dispose of useful property?

The hay barn of the evicted tenant, Timothy Murphy, on the Thompson-Orpen estate, became dangerous and was removed by order of the secretary of the Cork Defence Union in September, 1916 The poles or supports were not removed or chopped up by the caretaker or the police, nor had the police anything to do with the removal of the barn. I am informed that Sergeant Mulcahy and Constable Sullivan, of Mill-street, were not engaged in cutting turf on the bog, but both had some turf cut by paid labour. The galvanised roofing of the hay barn is still stored in the dwelling house on the evicted farm. The police and the caretaker on an evicted farm do not dispose of useful property, and they have not done so in this case.